In the New Testament writings of the apostle John, the mention of “LOVE” is abundant. John is also known as the Beloved Disciple of Christ. I could not understand what this “love” really is that John writes of, and whenever I ask, all I get is a patchwork of verses from 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Love is patient, love is kind…
Until, because of a re-reading of the Gospel of John, I looked into the Greek words of the English word “love” as used in John 21:15-17. This is a conversation between Jesus and Simon Peter, son of John.
“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
“Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
In the first two instances, Jesus used the Greek word “agapas” for “love” and each time, Peter replies with “philo” and not “agape” as Jesus refers to. On the third instance, Jesus used the Greek word “phileis” and Peter responds with “philo.”
The difference between agape love and phileo love was the difference I needed to know. Jesus was gently restoring Peter who denied Him at the cross. Jesus was gently leading Peter from knowledge of brotherly love to that of divine love. And along these same lines of loving restoration, Jesus predicts the martyrdom that Peter will endure — of the love that is agape.
Over many weeks, I couldn’t stand the inability to comprehend this “love” that the culture throws around carelessly in such phrases as “God is love” and “love one another.” But by turning to the Bible in the Greek language, something I got motivated to do thanks to online lectures in hermeneutics ! – I began to inch slowly in understanding and desiring to learn more of God through His Word.
Oh Holy Spirit of God, saturate me with Your Word, instruct me, correct me, because I want to truly know the LORD and God I serve. Help me, oh God, to know and practice divine love, the agape of Jesus. This I ask in the name of Jesus, my Saviour, Amen.
PS: Must be divine providence. John MacArthur’s devotion came in the email tonight. And it was about agape love. I would like to share a portion of the devotional to you. God answers prayers.
. . . And in your brotherly kindness, Christian love
2 Peter 1:7
Classical Greek had three common terms for love. As we saw yesterday, phileo (philadelphia) is the love of give and take, best expressed in friendship. Eros is the love that takes—one loves another strictly for what he or she can get out of that person. It is typical of the world’s sexual and lustful desires, which are always bent toward self-gratification. Agape is the love that gives. It is completely unselfish, with no taking involved. This is the highest form of love, which all the other virtues in 2 Peter 1 ultimately lead to. It seeks another’s supreme good, no matter what the cost. Agape was exemplified perfectly by Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf.
But what does this highest type of love look like? A brief survey of the one anothers in the New Testament gives an excellent picture. We are commanded to:
- Edify one another (Rom. 14:19).
- “Serve one another” (Gal. 5:13).
- “Bear one another’s burdens” (Gal. 6:2).
- Submit to one another (Eph. 5:21).
- Forgive one another (Col. 3:13).
- Instruct one another (Col. 3:16).
- “Comfort one another” (1 Thess. 4:18).
- Rebuke one another (Titus 1:13).
- Encourage one another to do good (Heb. 10:24-25).
- Confess our sins to one another (James 5:16).
- “Pray for one another” (James 5:16).
- “Be hospitable to one another” (1 Peter 4:9-10).
Frrom Strength for Today Daily Devotional by John MacArthur